Activities for Disability Awareness

Physical Disabilities and Daily Tasks

• Many physical disabilities can be used as examples for this activity. Pick a well-known disability such as paralysis or blindness and choose participants to simulate it. To simulate disabilities requiring the use of mobility aids, use the aids, having participants attempt daily tasks that require them to move around, pick up and rearrange objects. Blindfold participants and use earplugs to simulate blindness and deafness. Simulate the effect a disability has on performing daily tasks such as putting on shoes and pouring a glass of water.

Physical Disabilities and Artistic Pursuits

• Use a blindfold, earplugs and ties to simulate blindness, deafness and loss of mobility. Have participants attempt to write, sing, paint or draw with each of the disabilities you are simulating. Discuss the difficulties each had completing a task and how the process compared with working naturally. Discuss people's impressions while not being able to see, hear or move in a way they normally do. Have participants discuss the difficulties of doing these tasks.

Cognitive Disabilities

• Using mirrors, have students attempt to read text backward. Write a paragraph or short story about completing an everyday task like getting ready for school. Create intentional errors. Include jumbled words, incorrect spellings, reversed letters and other mistakes to simulate dyslexia and similar cognitive disabilities. Time how long it takes students to complete the reading successfully. Have participants observe the exercise. Compare the results with those of the same person reading the same text with correct spelling and punctuation.

Research and Guest Speakers

• Have participants research different types of disabilities and create informational presentations to explain them to others. Share the presentations in a discussion group. Invite guest speakers with or without the researched disabilities to discuss their experiences with a disability and other people's perceptions of those who are disabled. Include people with different disability types, permanent and temporary. It is important to note that not everyone is born with a disability; many people develop them as the result of an accident or medical condition. Allow participants to ask questions and interact with the speakers concerning issues of daily life and an overall understanding of the disabled community; this will help create a personal connection as well as a better awareness.